Poker game

ABSTRACT

In a hold &#39;em type game, each player receives two hole cards. Then the first community card is dealt, followed by a second community card and then the three final community cards. The player with the best five card poker hand using his two hole cards and any of the community cards wins the pot. Alternatively, the community cards can be dealt two, one and two; two, two and one; one, two and two; or one, three and one. Wagering can occur after each round of dealing of a card or cards.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/244911, filed Oct. 5, 2005, entitled “Poker Game”, now pending.

This invention relates primarily to a poker game, and more particularly to poker game in which the community cards are dealt one, one and three. Alternatively, other combinations of dealing the community cards can be employed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Poker is a very popular card game. In general, there are two types of poker games: draw poker and stud poker.

In draw poker, the player is dealt one or more cards as his initial hand. The player then selects from these cards which cards he wishes to hold and which cards he wishes to discard. The discarded cards are removed from the player's hand and the player receives replacement cards for the discarded cards resulting in the player's final hand. The player wins or loses based on the poker hand ranking of the player's final hand.

In stud poker, the player only uses the cards that are dealt to him to form his hand. There is no discarding unwanted cards and no replacement cards are provided to the player. Again, the player wins or loses based on the poker hand ranking of the player's final hand.

In some forms of poker, there is only one player. The player plays against a pay table. As shown in the pay table, certain poker hand rankings are winning combinations and all other poker hand combinations are losing combinations. These single hand poker games can be played as either draw poker games or stud poker games.

In these single player poker games, the player makes a wager to participate in the game. The player wins an award if the player's final poker hand is a winning combination. The amount of the award is based on the particular poker hand combination that the player achieves on his final hand and is shown in the pay table. The amount of the award is also a function of the amount wagered by the player.

In other forms of poker, there are multiple players. Quite often in these multiple player games, the object for the player is to have a higher ranking poker hand than all of the other players. In order to participate in the game, the players make wagers which are collected in a common pot. Usually, the first wager by each player is called the Ante wager. During the play of the poker game, various betting rounds occur at which each player may make additional wagers. Players may also fold at any point in the poker game upon which the player is withdrawing from further participation in that round of the game. Poker games that have more than one betting round can result in much larger common pots.

At the end of the round of the game, the player with the best poker hand wins the pot. These multiple player poker games can be played as either draw poker games or stud poker games.

Seven Card Stud is a popular stud poker game. Each player receives initially three cards: one card face up which can be seen by all of the other players and two cards face down (the Hole cards) which can be seen only by that player. A round of betting occurs. A fourth card is dealt face up to each player and another round of betting occurs. A fifth card is dealt face up to each player and another round of betting occurs. A sixth card is dealt face up to each player and another round of betting occurs. Finally, a seventh card is dealt face down to each player and another round of betting occurs. The player with the best five card poker hand out of his seven cards wins the common pot.

Poker can also be played using community cards. A community card is a card that is shared among all of the players in the game. Typically, community cards are displayed face up in the center of the table so that all players can see the community cards.

A very popular form of poker is the Hold 'Em format. A player initially receives one or more Hole cards which are cards unique to that player. Then a plurality of community cards are displayed during which betting rounds occur. The player with the best poker hand at the end of the game wins the common pot.

In Texas Hold 'Em Poker, each player receives two Hole cards and a round of betting occurs. Then three community cards (the Flop) are displayed and another round of betting occurs. Then a fourth community card (the Turn or Fourth Street) is displayed and another round of betting occurs. Finally, a fifth community card (the River or Fifth Street) is displayed and another round of betting occurs. The player with the best poker hand out of the seven cards (his two Hole cards and the five community cards) wins the common pot.

Omaha Poker plays quite similar to Texas Hold 'Em Poker except that each player initially receives four Hole cards. The display of the community cards and the betting rounds are the same as in Texas Hold 'Em Poker except that in the final determination a player must use two of his four Hole cards to make his final five card.

There is discussed in old Hoyle poker texts another version of Omaha in which each player gets two Hole cards and the five community cards are displayed one card at a time. This results in six rounds of betting and the player is not required to use either of his Hole cards in his final poker hand. See, SCARNE, infra at 26.

Another Hold 'Em poker type game is called Pineapple. In Pineapple, each player receives three Hole cards. The community cards are displayed three, one and one. In regular Pineapple, the player must discard one of his Hole cards before the three card flop is revealed. In Crazy Pineapple, the player must discard one of his Hole cards after the flop is revealed, but before the turn card is revealed.

SCARNE'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CARD GAMES (copyright 1973, 1983) at pages 6-55, inclusive (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein) describes many draw poker and stud poker games. At pages 44-45 the method of play of Las Vegas Style Hold 'Em poker is described and tracks quite closely the description of Texas Hold 'Em poker described above.

SCARNE, Id., at pages 23-26 also describes various “spit-in-the-ocean” card games which can generally be categorized as draw poker games that use community cards. When the player discards unwanted cards from his own hand, the replacement cards come from the community cards to complete the player's final hand.

According to SCARNE, Id., at pages 25-26, some of these “spit-in-the-ocean” card games do not use a draw step. Scarne describes a game known as Lame Brain (which also goes by the name of Cincinnati or by the name of Confusion). Each player receives five cards in his own hand and there are five community cards dealt face down. Each community card is turned up one at a time with appropriate betting rounds. The best five card hand wins with each player forming his final five card hand from the total of ten cards—the player's five cards and the five community cards.

Variations of Lame Brain are also described. Round the World uses four player cards and four community cards with the best five card hand being the winner. Both Lame Brain and Round the World can be played as High-Low games.

Another game similar to Lame Brain is called Criss Cross (also called, Cross Widow or X Marks the Spot or Crossover). The five community cards are displayed in a cross configuration. Each player's final hand comes from the player's five cards and up to three of the community cards, but a player may only use community cards that are in the same horizontal or vertical row.

A disadvantage of Texas Hold 'Em Poker is that the community cards are dealt three, one and one. Because the player receives two hole cards initially and then three community cards are dealt, the game can be analyzed mathematically to determine whether the player should bet or fold after the three community cards are dealt. The element of luck is minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a hold 'em type game, each player receives two hole cards. Then the first community card is dealt, followed by a second community card and then the three final community cards. The player with the best five card poker hand using his two hole cards and any of the community cards wins the pot.

Alternatively, the community cards can be dealt two, one and two; two, two and one; one, two and two; or one, three and one.

Wagering can occur after each round of dealing of a card or cards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The poker game of the present invention is played in a manner similar to Texas Hold 'Em, but variations are used of the manner in which the community cards are dealt during the play of the game.

Version 1.

Each player initially is dealt two hole cards. A round of betting occurs.

Then the first community card is dealt and another round of betting occurs. Then a second community card is dealt and a round of betting occurs.

Then the three final community cards are dealt and a final round of betting occurs. The player with the best five card poker hand using his two hole cards and any of the community cards wins the pot.

In each of these versions of the present invention, the method of play adds a considerable amount of luck to the game in that the community cards are exposed in a manner different from the traditional showing of the community cards as three, one and one. More luck is introduced into the play of the game. In traditional Texas Hold 'Em, five of the final seven cards are displayed after only one round of betting.

Version 2.

Each player initially is dealt two hole cards. A round of betting occurs.

Then the first two community cards are dealt and another round of betting occurs. Then the third community card is dealt and a round of betting occurs.

Then the two final community cards are dealt and a final round of betting occurs. The player with the best five card poker hand using his two hole cards and any of the community cards wins the pot.

Version 3.

Each player initially is dealt two hole cards. A round of betting occurs.

Then the first two community cards are dealt and another round of betting occurs. Then the third and fourth community cards are dealt and a round of betting occurs.

Then the fifth final community card is dealt and a final round of betting occurs. The player with the best five card poker hand using his two hole cards and any of the community cards wins the pot.

Version 4.

Each player initially is dealt two hole cards. A round of betting occurs.

Then the first community card is dealt and another round of betting occurs. Then the second and third community cards are dealt and a round of betting occurs.

Then the two final community cards are dealt and a final round of betting occurs. The player with the best five card poker hand using his two hole cards and any of the community cards wins the pot.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 11/244911, filed Oct. 5, 2005, entitled “Poker Game”, now pending.

This invention relates primarily to a poker game, and more particularly to poker game in which the community cards are dealt one, one and three. Alternatively, other combinations of dealing the community cards can be employed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Poker is a very popular card game. In general, there are two types of poker games: draw poker and stud poker.

In draw poker, the player is dealt one or more cards as his initial hand. The player then selects from these cards which cards he wishes to hold and which cards he wishes to discard. The discarded cards are removed from the player's hand and the player receives replacement cards for the discarded cards resulting in the player's final hand. The player wins or loses based on the poker hand ranking of the player's final hand.

In stud poker, the player only uses the cards that are dealt to him to form his hand. There is no discarding unwanted cards and no replacement cards are provided to the player. Again, the player wins or loses based on the poker hand ranking of the player's final hand.

In some forms of poker, there is only one player. The player plays against a pay table. As shown in the pay table, certain poker hand rankings are winning combinations and all other poker hand combinations are losing combinations. These single hand poker games can be played as either draw poker games or stud poker games.

In these single player poker games, the player makes a wager to participate in the game. The player wins an award if the player's final poker hand is a winning combination. The amount of the award is based on the particular poker hand combination that the player achieves on his final hand and is shown in the pay table. The amount of the award is also a function of the amount wagered by the player.

In other forms of poker, there are multiple players. Quite often in these multiple player games, the object for the player is to have a higher ranking poker hand than all of the other players. In order to participate in the game, the players make wagers which are collected in a common pot. Usually, the first wager by each player is called the Ante wager. During the play of the poker game, various betting rounds occur at which each player may make additional wagers. Players may also fold at any point in the poker game upon which the player is withdrawing from further participation in that round of the game. Poker games that have more than one betting round can result in much larger common pots.

At the end of the round of the game, the player with the best poker hand wins the pot. These multiple player poker games can be played as either draw poker games or stud poker games.

Seven Card Stud is a popular stud poker game. Each player receives initially three cards: one card face up which can be seen by all of the other players and two cards face down (the Hole cards) which can be seen only by that player. A round of betting occurs. A fourth card is dealt face up to each player and another round of betting occurs. A fifth card is dealt face up to each player and another round of betting occurs. A sixth card is dealt face up to each player and another round of betting occurs. Finally, a seventh card is dealt face down to each player and another round of betting occurs. The player with the best five card poker hand out of his seven cards wins the common pot.

Poker can also be played using community cards. A community card is a card that is shared among all of the players in the game. Typically, community cards are displayed face up in the center of the table so that all players can see the community cards.

A very popular form of poker is the Hold 'Em format. A player initially receives one or more Hole cards which are cards unique to that player. Then a plurality of community cards are displayed during which betting rounds occur. The player with the best poker hand at the end of the game wins the common pot.

In Texas Hold 'Em Poker, each player receives two Hole cards and a round of betting occurs. Then three community cards (the Flop) are displayed and another round of betting occurs. Then a fourth community card (the Turn or Fourth Street) is displayed and another round of betting occurs. Finally, a fifth community card (the River or Fifth Street) is displayed and another round of betting occurs. The player with the best poker hand out of the seven cards (his two Hole cards and the five community cards) wins the common pot.

Omaha Poker plays quite similar to Texas Hold 'Em Poker except that each player initially receives four Hole cards. The display of the community cards and the betting rounds are the same as in Texas Hold 'Em Poker except that in the final determination a player must use two of his four Hole cards to make his final five card.

There is discussed in old Hoyle poker texts another version of Omaha in which each player gets two Hole cards and the five community cards are displayed one card at a time. This results in six rounds of betting and the player is not required to use either of his Hole cards in his final poker hand. See, SCARNE, infra at 26.

Another Hold 'Em poker type game is called Pineapple. In Pineapple, each player receives three Hole cards. The community cards are displayed three, one and one. In regular Pineapple, the player must discard one of his Hole cards before the three card flop is revealed. In Crazy Pineapple, the player must discard one of his Hole cards after the flop is revealed, but before the turn card is revealed.

SCARNE'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CARD GAMES (copyright 1973, 1983) at pages 6-55, inclusive (the disclosure of which is incorporated herein) describes many draw poker and stud poker games. At pages 44-45 the method of play of Las Vegas Style Hold 'Em poker is described and tracks quite closely the description of Texas Hold 'Em poker described above.

SCARNE, Id., at pages 23-26 also describes various “spit-in-the-ocean” card games which can generally be categorized as draw poker games that use community cards. When the player discards unwanted cards from his own hand, the replacement cards come from the community cards to complete the player's final hand.

According to SCARNE, Id., at pages 25-26, some of these “spit-in-the-ocean” card games do not use a draw step. Scarne describes a game known as Lame Brain (which also goes by the name of Cincinnati or by the name of Confusion). Each player receives five cards in his own hand and there are five community cards dealt face down. Each community card is turned up one at a time with appropriate betting rounds. The best five card hand wins with each player forming his final five card hand from the total of ten cards—the player's five cards and the five community cards.

Variations of Lame Brain are also described. Round the World uses four player cards and four community cards with the best five card hand being the winner. Both Lame Brain and Round the World can be played as High-Low games.

Another game similar to Lame Brain is called Criss Cross (also called, Cross Widow or X Marks the Spot or Crossover). The five community cards are displayed in a cross configuration. Each player's final hand comes from the player's five cards and up to three of the community cards, but a player may only use community cards that are in the same horizontal or vertical row.

A disadvantage of Texas Hold 'Em Poker is that the community cards are dealt three, one and one. Because the player receives two hole cards initially and then three community cards are dealt, the game can be analyzed mathematically to determine whether the player should bet or fold after the three community cards are dealt. The element of luck is minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a hold 'em type game, each player receives two hole cards. Then the first community card is dealt, followed by a second community card and then the three final community cards. The player with the best five card poker hand using his two hole cards and any of the community cards wins the pot.

Alternatively, the community cards can be dealt two, one and two; two, two and one; one, two and two; or one, three and one.

wagering can occur after each round of dealing of a card or cards.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The poker game of the present invention is played in a manner similar to Texas Hold 'Em, but variations are used of the manner in which the community cards are dealt during the play of the game.

Version 1.

Each player initially is dealt two hole cards. A round of betting occurs.

Then the first community card is dealt and another round of betting occurs. Then a second community card is dealt and a round of betting occurs.

Then the three final community cards are dealt and a final round of betting occurs. The player with the best five card poker hand using his two hole cards and any of the community cards wins the pot.

In each of these versions of the present invention, the method of play adds a considerable amount of luck to the game in that the community cards are exposed in a manner different from the traditional showing of the community cards as three, one and one. More luck is introduced into the play of the game. In traditional Texas Hold 'Em, five of the final seven cards are displayed after only one round of betting.

Version 2.

Each player initially is dealt two hole cards. A round of betting occurs.

Then the first two community cards are dealt and another round of betting occurs. Then the third community card is dealt and a round of betting occurs.

Then the two final community cards are dealt and a final round of betting occurs. The player with the best five card poker hand using his two hole cards and any of the community cards wins the pot.

Version 3.

Each player initially is dealt two hole cards. A round of betting occurs.

Then the first two community cards are dealt and another round of betting occurs. Then the third and fourth community cards are dealt and a round of betting occurs.

Then the fifth final community card is dealt and a final round of betting occurs. The player with the best five card poker hand using his two hole cards and any of the community cards wins the pot.

Version 5.

Each player initially is dealt two hole cards. A round of betting occurs.

Then the first community card is dealt and another round of betting occurs. Then the second, third and fourth community cards are dealt and a round of betting occurs.

Then the final community card is dealt and a final round of betting occurs. The player with the best five card poker hand using his two hole cards and any of the community cards wins the pot.

In each of these versions of the present invention, the method of play adds a considerable amount of luck to the game in that the community cards are exposed in a manner different from the traditional showing of the community cards as three, one and one. More luck is introduced into the play of the game. In traditional Texas Hold 'Em, five of the final seven cards are displayed after only one round of betting.

In accordance with the present invention, four or less of the final seven cards are displayed after one round of betting. With three or more cards still to be displayed, it will be more difficult for a player, experience or otherwise, to determine whether to drop out of the hand or to continue. This indecision should result in more exciting play. Also, the pots should increase since there is less mathematical certainty that can be analyzed as to how the initial hole cards followed by the deal of the community cards should be played.

In any of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, antes (such as one or two blinds) can be used and any suitable betting levels and progressions may be applied.

While the invention has been illustrated with respect to its various embodiments, these embodiments should be considered as illustrative rather than limiting. Various modifications and additions may be made and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention should not be limited by the foregoing description, but rather should be defined only by the following claims. 

1. A method of playing a card game having a plurality of players comprising: a) dealing two hole cards to each player and having a round of betting; b) displaying a first community card and having a round of betting; c) displaying a second community card and having a round of betting; d) displaying a third, fourth and fifth community card and having a round of betting; and e) declaring as a winner the player with the best five card hand from among the player's two hole cards and the five community cards.
 2. The method of claim 1 in which any amounts bet during each round of betting are collected in a pot, the pot being awarded at least in part to the player declared as the winner.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which at least one of the players participating in the game makes an ante wager.
 4. A method of playing a card game having a plurality of players comprising: a) dealing two hole cards to each player and having a round of betting; b) displaying a first and second community card and having a round of betting; c) displaying a third community card and having a round of betting; d) displaying a fourth and fifth community card and having a round of betting; and e) declaring as a winner the player with the best five card hand from among the player's two hole cards and the five community cards.
 5. The method of claim 4 in which any amounts bet during each round of betting are collected in a pot, the pot being awarded at least in part to the player declared as the winner.
 6. The method of claim 4 in which at least one of the players participating in the game makes an ante wager.
 7. A method of playing a card game having a plurality of players comprising: a) dealing two hole cards to each player and having a round of betting; b) displaying a first and second community card and having a round of betting; c) displaying a third and fourth community card and having a round of betting; d) displaying a fifth community card and having a round of betting; and e) declaring as a winner the player with the best five card hand from among the player's two hole cards and the five community cards.
 8. The method of claim 7 in which any amounts bet during each round of betting are collected in a pot, the pot being awarded at least in part to the player declared as the winner.
 9. The method of claim 7 in which at least one of the players participating in the game makes an ante wager.
 10. A method of playing a card game having a plurality of players comprising: a) dealing two hole cards to each player and having a round of betting; b) displaying a first community card and having a round of betting; c) displaying a second and third community card and having a round of betting; d) displaying a fourth and fifth community card and having a round of betting; and e) declaring as a winner the player with the best five card hand from among the player's two hole cards and the five community cards.
 11. The method of claim 10 in which any amounts bet during each round of betting are collected in a pot, the pot being awarded at least in part to the player declared as the winner.
 12. The method of claim 10 in which at least one of the players participating in the game makes an ante wager.
 13. A method of playing a card game having a plurality of players comprising: a) dealing two hole cards to each player and having a round of betting; b) displaying a first community card and having a round of betting; c) displaying a second, third and fourth community card and having a round of betting; d) displaying a fifth community card and having a round of betting; and e) declaring as a winner the player with the best five card hand from among the player's two hole cards and the five community cards.
 14. The method of claim 13 in which any amounts bet during each round of betting are collected in a pot, the pot being awarded at least in part to the player declared as the winner.
 15. The method of claim 13 in which at least one of the players participating in the game makes an ante wager. 